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Indian Army Soldier on Leave Abducted, Killed In Manipur

By LokMarg 17th September 2023

A 41-year-old Indian Army soldier was abducted and later killed while he was on leave in Manipur’s Imphal West district, officials said on Sunday.

According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ministry of Defence, Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom (41), was abducted and later killed by three unidentified miscreants, while on leave at Tarung, Happy Valley, Imphal West.

He was deployed at Leimakhong Military Station, Manipur, officials said, adding that he is survived by his wife and two children.

“Sepoy Serto was abducted from his home at about 10:00 am on September 16, 2023. As per the statement of his 10-year-old son, who is the only eyewitness to the crime, said that three miscreants entered the home while the father and son were working on the porch and placed a pistol on his father’s head and forced him into a white coloured vehicle, and drove away with him,” Defence PRO said in a statement.

“There was no news of the braveheart till this morning. At about 9:30 AM his body was found at Khuningthek Village, East of Mongjam under Sogolmang Police Station, Imphal East,” the statement read. (ANI)

SC Extends Relief To Editors Guild Members In Manipur Fact-Finding Report Case

By LokMarg 11th September 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday extended its order granting interim protection from arrest till September 15 to the president and fact-finding team members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) in relation to the two FIRs registered against them by the Manipur Police.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra

extended the operation of its order passed on September 6 on the plea of the EGI till Friday, the next date of hearing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, told the bench that EGI members may be protected for some more time and asked it to send the matter to the Manipur High Court as done in other cases.

However, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Shyam Divan, appearing for the EGI, opposed SG’s submission saying the matter be heard by the apex top court as the FIRs have been lodged on the basis of a fact-finding report.

The Chief Justice asked Mehta whether the State would agree to the transfer of the case to the Delhi High Court as a one-off measure. “We will not quash the FIRs here… but we will examine whether such a plea could be heard by the Delhi High Court,” CJI said.

SG initially objected to the transfer of the case to the Delhi High Court, saying the EGI was trying to make it into a “national, political issue” and asked why the petitioners were insisting on Delhi, and not States neighbouring Manipur.

Mehta said the Manipur High Court was functioning regularly and allowed virtual hearing of cases.

Sibal told the bench that EGI’s team had visited Manipur on the “Army’s invitation” to make an “objective assessment” of the “unethical and ex parte reporting” by the vernacular media.

“We did not volunteer to go there. It is the Army that requested us. We got a letter from the Army,” Sibal said.

The Chief Justice expressed surprise as to why the Army wanted the EGI to go to Manipur.

Editors Guild of India approached the Supreme Court seeking quashing of two FIRs registered by Manipur police against its president and its fact-finding team over the report on the violence in the State.

The Guild’s 24-page report was released on September 2. The fact-finding team was sent to Manipur to examine the media reportage in the state from August 7 to 10.

The Manipur Police registered an FIR against Guild’s President Seema Mustafa, and three of its members – Seema Guha, Bharat Bhushan and Sanjay Kapoor – who were part of the fact-finding team that visited Manipur to examine how media in the state was reporting the violence. They had concluded that local news reports about the riots were biased.

The first FIR is based on a complaint filed by one Ngangom Sarat Singh who has described the report as “ false, fabricated and sponsored”. The second FIR was registered against the four members of the Guild, with the additional charge of defamation.

The plea sought directions to quash two FIRs registered by the Manipur police against Guild’s members.

The top court is seized of the cases relating to the violence in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki communities.

The violence in Manipur between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, who are Christians, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3.

Violence has gripped the entire state since May and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)

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Manipur Violence: Three-Judge Committee Submits Reports To SC

By LokMarg 21st August 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will pass orders on Friday to facilitate the proper functioning of a committee headed by Justice (retd) Gita Mittal which was set up to monitor relief work, rehabilitation, compensation and healing of violence-hit Manipur.

The committee has submitted three reports before the top court, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

The bench hearing the Manipur violence cases said that certain procedural directions would be required to be issued for administrative assistance, to meet the financial expenses of the committee, etc.

It said three reports filed by the Committee be given to advocates in the case.

The committee in its report flagged that victims of ethnic violence in Manipur have lost their necessary documents in the violence and need to be reissued. It further highlighted that the Manipur victim compensation scheme may be updated and the proposal of the committee for the appointment of domain experts.

After reviewing the reports, the bench also underlined that the committee had bifurcated the cases under several heads such as compensation, violence against women, mental health care, medical health care, relief camps, data reporting and monitoring etc.

The bench posted the matter for direction on Friday.

The apex court had set up the three-member committee of former High Court judges — Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, former Judge of the Bombay High Court and Justice Asha Menon, former Judge of the Delhi High Court.

A three-member committee was set up to look into humanitarian aspects of the issue including relief, remedial measures, rehabilitation measures, and restoration of homes and places of worship.

The top court seized the cases relating to the violence in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki communities.

The violence in Manipur between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, who are Christians, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3.

Violence has gripped the entire state for over three months now and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)

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Delhi Assembly To Discuss Manipur Issue Today

By LokMarg 17th August 2023

Delhi Legislative Assembly on Thursday is likely to discuss the Manipur issue on the last day of its two-day session.

According to the listed legislative business for the House for Thursday, MLAs Durgesh Pathak, Vinay Mishra and Kuldeep Kumar will initiate a short-duration discussion on the issue of disturbances in Manipur and the atrocities being faced by the people there.

Earlier AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on August 11 said it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit Manipur and take any action on it.

“When there was violence in Manipur, PM Modi went on a foreign tour. When there was a flood situation in Delhi and the northern parts of India, he again went on a foreign tour. He (PM Modi) did election rallies in several states but did not visit Manipur. The whole country was hoping that PM Modi will visit Manipur and improve the situation of the state. But this never happened which is very unfortunate,” Bharadwaj said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort on Tuesday, appealed for peace in strife-torn Manipur saying that people across the country stand with the people of the Northeast state.

“The whole country stands with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way to resolve all disputes. The Centre and the Manipur government are making every effort to ensure that peace returns to the state at the earliest,” PM Modi said.

The violence in the Northeast state has claimed over 100 lives while displacing thousands more.

Notably, a viral video from Manipur — where two women were purportedly seen being paraded naked — triggered a war of words and raised concerns over the Manipur situation, amid ethnic clashes since May 4. (ANI)

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Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute

Why Police Took 14 Days To Register Zero FIR In Manipur Case: CJI Chandrachud

By LokMarg 31st July 2023

Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Central government on the Manipur viral video, in which two women were allegedly sexually assaulted and paraded naked by a mob, asking why the FIR in the case was registered on May 18 when the incident happened on May 4.

“Supreme Court questions why the FIR was registered on May 18 when the incident happened on May 4. What were the police doing from May 4 to May 18? The incident came to light that women are being paraded naked and at least two were raped. What were the police doing?” the Supreme Court asked the Central government.

Manipur: 5th Accused Arrested In Viral Video Case
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that government has nothing to hide.

“This court can monitor the situation. Something coming from here or there will be hazardous,” he added.

A 26-second video from Manipur has triggered outrage in the whole country where two women were stripped naked, assaulted and paraded by a mob.

The incident allegedly took place on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur.

After a video of the same went viral, the police swung into action and arrested seven people, including the main accused.

The violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 to protest against the high court order, asking the state government to consider adding the Meitei community to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

However, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday took over the investigation into the case. (ANI)

RS Adjourned As Oppo Protests Govt’s Move For discussion Manipur

By LokMarg 31st July 2023

Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2:30 PM shortly after a discussion on the Manipur issue began in the House.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2:30 PM today shortly after Opposition MPs objected to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s short-duration discussion on issues connected with Manipur.
Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm soon after the Upper House convened for the day, amidst a ruckus over a discussion on the ongoing Manipur issue.

Soon after the House assembled for the day and papers were laid on the table, the Opposition started raising the issue requesting the chair to consider it.

Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal said, “The opposition is against a discussion on Manipur.

For nine days, the government kept up with its promise to speak on Manipur but it has not been possible from the opposition’s side. If they are ready, we can hold a discussion at 2 pm.

”The Lok Sabha was also adjourned till 2 pm today Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi earlier today said that bill to replace the ordinance on control of services in Delhi is not listed in today’s business and the matter will not be taken up in the Parliament.”We will inform you when it (Delhi Ordinance Bill) will be introduced. It is not mentioned in the List of Businesses today,” Joshi told reporters before the Parliament convened for the day.

He further stated that a no-confidence motion will be brought within ten working days from the day it was tabled in the Lok Sabha. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also said Bill will not be introduced in Parliament today.

“We have been asking for their (Opposition) demand since the first day, they wanted a discussion on Manipur and when we agreed to it, now they changed their demand and want the Prime Minister to speak on this issue. They are trying to politicise this issue. They have brought the no-confidence motion, we will have discussions on the same whenever Speaker decides,” Meghwal said.

Earlier today, Aam Admi Party issued a three-line whip for all its Rajya Sabha MPs to be present in the House from July 31 to August 4 to support the party’s stand on the bill to replace the ordinance on control of services in Delhi when it is brought up in the House by the government in the monsoon session of Parliament. (ANI)

Only Demand Is Peace With Justice: Manoj Jha After Returning From Manipur

By LokMarg 30th July 2023

After returning from violence-hit Manipur on Sunday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha urged the Kuki and Meitei communities to cooperate in restoring peace and harmony in the state saying that there is “no alternative to peace anywhere”.

“We want peace to be restored in Manipur. Peace with justice. Our only demand is that both communities should live in harmony. The situation in Manipur is dangerous. Be it Madhya Pradesh or Manipur, there is no alternative to peace anywhere,” Jha said while talking to the media.
The 21-member delegation of the grand Opposition alliance, on Saturday, arrived on a two-day visit to the state, which has seen ethnic strife and violence since May 3.

The leaders returned to Delhi on Sunday afternoon.

The 21-member Opposition delegation from both Houses includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.

However, on being asked whether an all-party delegation should visit the state or not, Jha said, “There have already been discussions in Parliament that an all-party delegation should visit Manipur as well.”

The visiting delegation of Opposition leaders from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) on Sunday met Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhawan and handed over a memorandum to her.

The Governor and the visiting delegation, during their interaction, suggested that a multi-party delegation be sent to violence-hit Manipur.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who was also the part of visiting delegation, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also visit the northeastern state.

“People welcomed us there (Manipur). NDA alliance and Prime Minister Modi should also visit Manipur,” Gogoi said while speaking to ANI.

Notably, Opposition leaders have been continuously cornering the Central government over the issue of Manipur in the Parliament since the first day of the monsoon session. The Opposition MPs are also demanding a statement from PM Modi inside the Parliament on Manipur. (ANI)

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Manipur Gov Visits Relief Camp In Churachandpur, Consoles Woman

By LokMarg 29th July 2023

A video showing Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey “consoling” a woman at a relief camp in the violence-hit Churachandpur district of Manipur surfaced on Saturday.

Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Saturday visited relief camps in Churachandpur and consoled a woman who narrated her story.
She met several locals displaced during the violence that erupted on May 3 and assured the affected people that the government would offer compensation to those who lost family members and experienced property damage.

BJP Leader Quits Party Over Manipur, Says ‘PM Is Sleeping’

Additionally, she expressed her commitment to promoting peace and ensuring a bright future for the people of Manipur, promising to do everything in her power to achieve these objectives.

During a visit to a relief camp, a women narrated her ordeal to the Manipur Governor and started to weep as other women looked on.

As per the video, the Governor can be seen walking up to the grief-stricken woman and consoling her. During her visit to the relief camps, several dispaced locals asked when peace would return to the state.

The Governor said, “The people here want to return home. I am striving to bring all parties together in the interest of restoring peace to the state.”

Earlier, Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Saturday urged the visiting I.N.D.I.A leaders to contribute to the restoration of peace and order to the violence-hit Northeast.

She also called on all parties and stakeholders help put the state back on track.

Speaking to reporters after visiting relief centres in Churachandpur, which was the epicentre of the ethnic violence in the state, Governor Uikey said, “People are asking when peace will be restored to the state. I make constant efforts to bring communities and stakeholders together in the interest of restoring peace to the state. We are also calling on all political parties to help us in this effort.”

On the two-day visit by the Opposition delegation, the Manipur Governor said, “I would appeal to them to contribute towards restoring peace to the state.”

After visiting people displaced by the ethnic violence at the Churachandpur relief shelters, the Governor said, “The government will provide compensation to people, to lost family members to the violence and also suffered loss of property.

I will do everything possible to bring peace to Manipur and towards the welfare and well-being of the people, across communities.” (ANI)

21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A

21-Member Oppo Delegation To Land In Imphal For 2-day Manipur Visit

By LokMarg 29th July 2023

A 21-member delegation from the grand Opposition alliance, I.N.D.I.A, is set to touch down at Imphal airport on Saturday for a two-visit to violence-hit Manipur.

The visit follows from a chorus from the Opposition members for a debate on the Manipur situation and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has resulted in repeated disruptions and adjournments in both Houses of Parliament.
The Northeast state has been racked by ehtnic violence, which broke out over a Manipur High Court order asking the state government to consider adding the Meitei community to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Amid the persistent violence, a video from May 4, when the clashes broke out, surfaced recently purportedly showing two women being paraded naked.

The viral video triggered a fierce war of words between the BJP-led Centre and the Opposition, both within the four walls of the Parliament and outside, over the prevailing state of affairs in the Northeast state.

Demanding that all scheduled businesses in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha be set aside for a discussion on Manipur, members of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) raised a ruckus, disrupting and stalling proceedings in both Houses.

The visit by the I.N.D.I.A delegation comes even as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a motion of no cofidence moved by the Opposition against the Centre over the Manipur situation.

The motion was tabled in the Lower House by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who is part of the delegation visiting Manipur on Saturday.

Defending the motion against the Centre, Opposition leaders said it was aimed at eliciting a response from PM Modi over the Manipur situation in Parliament.

The 21-member Opposition delegation, from both Houses, includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.

Only Demand Is Peace With Justice: Manoj Jha

As per the schedule, the delegation, split into two teams, will reach the Imphal airport at 12 pm on Saturday and will leave for Churachandpur, the epicentre of the ethnic violence in the state. The delegation will likely hold a press conference at 8.30 pm later in the day.

The Opppsition members have been adamant on the demand for a discussion on Manipur and a statement from PM Modi on the prevailing state of affairs in the state since the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 20.

While the Treasury said it was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the Opposition insisted on a debate under adjournment motion.

Amid the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha over the Manipur issue, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday held a meeting with leaders of all Opposition parties to discuss the proceedings of the Upper House next week.

The BJP’s Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the Opposition should proper functioning of the House by way of dialogue, debate and discussion.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur during which he announced several steps to restore peace.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the state in June. (ANI)

BJP Thinks Of Manipur As If It Is Pakistan: Surjewala

By LokMarg 27th July 2023

Congress MP Randeep Surjewala on Thursday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the prevailing situation in Manipur and alleged that the ruling party thinks of Manipur as if it is Pakistan”.

“How will they (BJP) even see the black colour of protest when their (BJP) hearts are black?… Dr Manmohan Singh during his tenure as PM used to answer questions every week…Today, they (BJP) think of Manipur which is an integral part of India as if it is Pakistan”, MP Surjewala said.
Earlier today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aware that BJP’s ideology has set the northeastern state on fire.

According to the Congress leader, PM Modi has got nothing to do with the violence-hit state because he is the Prime Minister of only a few selected people.

In a video message shared by Indian National Congress on Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said, “What is Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing for Manipur? Why is he not saying anything about Manipur? It is because Narendra Modi has nothing to do with Manipur. He knows that his own ideology has burned Manipur.”

Hitting out at PM Modi for not visiting the northeastern state, Rahul Gandhi said, “Have you seen what happened in Manipur? And what is happening? You will be surprised that the Prime Minister has not said a word about Manipur. You would have thought that when a state of the country is burning, the Prime Minister of the country would say something. Many of you would have thought that the Prime Minister of the country would go to Imphal to at least talk to the people.”

Meanwhile today, the opposition MPs of the INDIA alliance arrived at the Parliament wearing black clothes as a mark of protest against the Manipur violence.

While speaking to ANI, Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chaddha said, “Today the MPs of INDIA alliance have decided to oppose the atrocities on the people of Manipur and the barbarism going on there, we will wear black clothes and go to the Parliament today. This will be a symbolic protest to give a message that we stand with the people of Manipur in this hour of grief.

“He further stated that Chief Minister N Biren Singh should be sacked from his position.’We will try to make the Government realise that an integral part of this country, Manipur is burning. We urge the Government to save Manipur and shoulder their Constitutional duty. The State Govt of the day should be dissolved and the CM should be unceremoniously sacked,” he said.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that they are wearing black clothes against the arrogance of PM Modi.

“Our black clothes are against the arrogance of the PM. When the country is burning and Manipur is divided, he is bothered only about his own image,” Gaurav Gogoi said.

Meanwhile, the Leaders of the INDIA alliance held a meeting in the Parliament to chalk out the strategy for the Floor of the House.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “We do not get a chance to speak in the Parliament. We demanded that PM Modi should come to the Parliament & have a detailed discussion on the Manipur issue. Don’t know why the Prime Minister is not speaking. We were forced to bring a no-confidence motion.”

“We know that this will not bring down the government, but we have no choice. The Prime Minister of the country should come in front of the country and speak on Manipur,” he added.

All Members of Parliament from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) on Thursday will wear black clothes to the Parliament to register their protest over the situation in Manipur. (ANI)

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